Enjoy in the comforting flavours of these stuffed manicotti shells, where tender pasta meets a creamy filling of ricotta, chicken, and sweetcorn. This delightful dish is not only easy to prepare but also brings a touch of warmth to any meal, making it perfect for family gatherings or a cozy night in. With the added richness of a homemade tomato sauce and melted cheese, these manicotti are sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
Packed with protein and a burst of flavour, this recipe allows you to customise the filling to suit your tastes. Whether you're preparing a hearty dinner or a satisfying lunch, these stuffed manicotti shells offer a delicious way to enjoy a comforting classic. Serve them warm, garnished with fresh parsley for a pop of colour, and let every bite transport you to a delightful Italian feast.
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Calories in Chicken and Sweetcorn Manicotti
This recipe serves 4 (2 manicotti per person) and is 432 calories per serving
If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 400+ calorie recipes.
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Manicotti shells: These large pasta tubes are perfect for stuffing and baking, providing a delightful bite when filled with delicious ingredients.
- Passata and tomato paste: This combination creates a rich and smooth tomato sauce, with the passata providing a fresh tomato base and the tomato paste enhancing the depth of flavour.
- Garlic: Minced garlic brings a robust, aromatic essence to the dish, complementing the other flavours beautifully.
- Italian herbs: A blend of herbs like oregano and basil adds a fragrant, herbal note that enhances the overall taste of the sauce and filling.
- Cooked chicken: Finely diced chicken adds protein and substance to the filling, making the dish satisfying and hearty.
- Ricotta: This creamy cheese provides a smooth texture and mild flavour, perfectly balancing the other ingredients in the filling.
- Egg: The egg acts as a binder, helping to hold the filling together and adding richness to the overall mixture.
- Sweetcorn: Drained canned sweetcorn contributes a touch of sweetness and a pop of colour, adding both flavour and texture to the filling.
- Salt and pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and bring out the natural flavours of all the ingredients, ensuring a well-balanced dish.
- Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese: These cheeses create a gooey topping, with mozzarella melting beautifully and Parmesan adding a sharp, nutty flavour that enriches the dish overall.
- Fresh parsley: Finely chopped parsley provides a burst of freshness and a vibrant touch to garnish the finished dish.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
Feel free to customise this dish to suit your tastes and dietary needs. Here are some great variations and substitutes to consider:
- Use gluten-free manicotti shells for a gluten-free option.
- Substitute lasagne sheets rolled up with the filling instead of manicotti for those who can't source them.
- Experiment with different cheeses, such as red Leicester or cheddar, to add unique flavours to the filling.
- Enhance the passata sauce base by adding sautéed vegetables like onion, bell peppers, or mushrooms for added flavour and nutrition.
- Incorporate fresh herbs like basil or spinach into the filling for an extra burst of freshness.
These variations and substitutes allow you to personalise the dish while keeping the essence of this delicious stuffed pasta!
Side to Serve with Manicotti
Pair your delicious stuffed manicotti with complementary sides that enhance the meal and add freshness. A mixed house salad featuring crisp greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber, drizzled with my homemade lighter poppyseed dressing, makes for a refreshing accompaniment that balances the richness of the pasta.
For a wholesome touch, consider adding steamed or roasted green vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, or asparagus. These options not only add vibrant colour to your plate but also provide a nutritious boost. Sautéed spinach or kale can also be a fantastic choice, offering a delicious, slightly earthy flavour that pairs well with the cheesy filling. With these sides, your meal will be both satisfying and well-rounded!
More Low Calorie Pasta Recipes
If you adore pasta, be sure to explore these delightful recipes on Slimming Eats!
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or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
FAQ for Chicken Sweetcorn Manicotti
Yes! You can prepare the stuffed manicotti and assemble it in the baking dish a day in advance. Just cover it tightly and store it in the fridge. When you're ready to bake, allow it to come to room temperature before cooking.
Absolutely! You can freeze the uncooked stuffed manicotti in an airtight container. When you're ready to enjoy it, simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed.
If you're looking for a substitute, you can try light cream cheese or cottage cheese, but this hasn't been tested in the recipe
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Recipe Card
Chicken and Sweetcorn Manicotti
Delicious stuffed manicotti shells filled with creamy ricotta, chicken, and sweetcorn, topped with a easy homemade tomato sauce and melted cheese
Ingredients
- 8 manicotti shells, uncooked (approx 15g each)
- 300g (1¼ cups) passata
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- pinch of granulated sweetener
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- 200g (7oz) cooked chicken, finely diced
- 200g (7oz) part-skim ricotta
- 1 medium egg
- 80g (½ cup) canned sweetcorn, drained
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 80g (2.8oz) mozzarella cheese, grated
- 30g (1oz) grated Parmesan cheese
- Handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160°C fan / 180°C / 350°F.
- In a bowl, combine the chicken, sweetcorn, ricotta, and egg. Season with a little salt and pepper.
- Bring a saucepan of water to a boil and blanch the manicotti shells until they are slightly soft but still firm enough to stuff. (Don’t overcook, or they’ll be difficult to handle.)
- In a separate bowl, mix the passata, tomato paste, sweetener, garlic, and Italian herbs to create the sauce.
- Stuff the manicotti shells with the chicken, sweetcorn, and ricotta mixture.
- Spread half of the passata mixture into a large ovenproof dish big enough to fit the manicotti in one layer. Arrange the stuffed manicotti in the dish, then top with the remaining sauce.
- Sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for approx. 35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
- Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 431Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 80mgSodium 663mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 3gSugar 9gProtein 35g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
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